Jack arrangement for a platform structure



Dec. 6, 1966 R. D. YElLD 3,290,007

JACK ARRANGEMENT FOR A PLATFORM STRUCTURE Filed June 28, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 Wg ZAI Dec. 6, 1966 R. D. YEILDING JACK ARRANGEMENT FOR A PLATFORM STRUCTURE Filed June 28, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 F0406 .17. yew/000g Dec. 6, 1966 R. D. YEILDING 3,290,007

JACK ARRANGEMENT FOR A PLATFORM STRUCTURE Filed June 28, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 3040/; .D. yew/00x75! INVEVTOR.

ATTO/QA/EVJ Dec. 5, 1966 R. D- YElLDlNG JACK ARRANGEMENT FOR A PLATFORM STRUCTURE Filed June 28, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 50406 J. ye/ /a //7y ATTOR/ViVG Dec. 6, 1966 R. D. YEILDING 3,290,007

JACK ARRANGEMENT FOR A PLATFORM STRUCTURE Filed June 28, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 50406 E. yew/0009' I N VENTOR.

ATTOAA/EYJ United States Patent JACK 1- The present invention relates to a jack arrangement for a structure having support legs wherein the legs may be raised and lowered relative to the platform and the platform raised and lowered relative to the legs.

The present invention provides an arrangement for elevating and/ or lowering various types of structures such as drilling barges, temporary or permanent docks, temporary or permanent bridges, or other types of structure. It is particularly adaptable for use over water covered areas to enable the structure to be positioned as a predetermined location in the water covered area for carrying out various operations.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel means of raising and lowering a support leg structure for a structure and raising and/ or lowering the structure on support legs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a unique arrangement for selectively engaging and disengaging supporting legs of a structure whereby relative movement may be effected between the structure and support legs.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a jacking arrangement which engages and disengages support legs and a structure by relative rotation around the support legs.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View illustrating a structure supported by means of the present invention in a water covered area to enable well drilling operations to be carried out from the structure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 22 of FIG. 1, partly in elevation and showing one of the support legs extending through the structure and one part of the jacking mechanism of the present invention in one positi-on;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, partly in elevation on the line 33 or FIG. 2, and showing further details of the jacking arrangement of the present invention;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are partial sectional views diagrammatically illustrating the sequence of operation in lowering a support leg relative to the structure;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are views similar to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 to illustrate the sequence of operation in raising the platform on the support legs;

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are views similar to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 to illustrate the sequence of operation in lowering the structure on the support legs;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view on the line 13-13 of FIG. 2 and illustrates the construction of one ring member and the rotatable member carried thereby; and

FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 are views similar to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 and illustrate the sequence of operation in raising the support legs relative to the structure.

Attention is first directed to FIG. 1 of the drawings wherein a drilling barge or other structure is indicated generally by the numeral 2. The structure 2 is shown as being supported by a plurality of support legs represented generally by the numeral 4. The support legs are fixedly connected to a closed hollow member 2a adapted to be rested on the bottom when the legs 4 are extended theretoward, and the member 2a is also adapted to be carried preferably beneath the structure 2 as represented by the 3,290,007 Patented Dec. 6, 1966 dotted line representation in FIG. 1 as might occur during transportation of the structure 2 to the drilling site. The structure 4 may be constructed so as to float in the water covered area to the desired location with the legs 4 extended upwardly thereabove and the member 2a carried therebeneath and the mechanism of the present invention may thereafter be actuated so as to lower the support legs 4 onto the bottom of the water covered area whereupon the structure 2 may thereafter be raised on the legs as illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

As better illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the support legs 4 are received through suitable openings referred to generally by the numeral 5. When the structure 2 is being floated in the water covered area to the predetermined location, the support legs will be engaged in the manner represented in FIG. 4 and will extend upwardly above the barge or structure but not downwardly in the water covered area so as to impede movement of the structure 2. On lowering the legs 4 toward the bottom of the body of water, it will be appreciated that the closed hollow member 2a may be controllably flooded by means well known in the art to facilitate sinking of the legs relative to the bottom surface. Conversely, the hollow member 2a may be pumped dry to obtain buoyancy when attempting to elevate the legs 4 relative to the structure 2a.

Suitable means are provided for guiding the support legs 4 upon relative movement between the support legs 4 and the structure 2, such means including the annular surface 6 of the opening 5, more clearly seen in FIG. 3, and the circumferentially spaced recesses 7 in which are received the projections 8 formed on each of the legs 4 and the fixed relationship of the member 2a to the structure 2 wherein the legs 4 are fixedly attached to prevent relative rotation. It will be noted that the projections 8 are formed in circumferential and in longitudinally extending rows as illustrated in the drawings, and each row of projections is received within one of the longitudinally extending recesses 7 to thereby guide the support leg 4 upon relative movement between the leg 4 and the structure 2 as will be de scribed in greater detail hereinafter. The recesses 7 are each provided with side walls 7a and end walls 7b as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

An enlargement designated generally by the numeral 11 is formed in the structure 2 and faces each opening 5 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

The enlarged space 11 receives the jacking assembly referred to generally by the numeral 15 in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The space 11 faces each opening 5 and is formed by end surfaces 11a and 11b and circumferentially extending surface 110. The jacking assembly 15 includes a pair of annular or ring shaped members 16 and 17 with the double acting hydraulic jacks 20 secured thereto and connected t-herebetween at circumferentially spaced points as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Each of the ring shaped members is provided with a pair of spaced plate members 21 and 22 as better shown in FIG. 13 of the drawings. The spaced plate members 21 and 22 are adapted to receive therebetween the movable member 24 which surrounds each support leg 4 extending through an opening as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

The rotatable member 24 is provided with circumferentially spaced projections 25 which are adapted to engage the projections 8 on each leg to enable relative movement between the support leg 4 and the structure 2 to be accomplished as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Each ring 16 and 17 is provided with double acting hydraulic cylinder means 30 mounted thereon which has a piston 31 therein and a rod secured to the piston 31 which rod extends from the cylinder 30 and is pivotally connected to the bracket 32 on the rotatable member 24. It will be noted that a circumferential opening 33 is provided in each of the rings 16 and 17 for receiving the brackets 32 therethrough and to accommodate movement of the brackets when the hydraulic means 30 are actuated to rotate the retatable member 24 in each ring as will be de scribed in greater detail hereinafter. A plurality of openings 25a are arranged circumferentially of each ring member 16 and 17 to accommodate rotation of the projections 25 when the annular member 24 is rotated.

It can be appreciated that relative rotation of the rings 16 and 17 with respect to each leg 4 and with respect to the structure 2 must be prevented to accomplish rotation of the plate 24, and to this end, suitable restraining means in the form of the rod 40 is provided in the enlargement 11 and extends between and is secured within the end walls 11a and 11b whereby the rings 16 and 17 may each move longitudinally relative to the rod 40 but rotation of such rings is prevented by engagement of the brackets 42 on ench ring with the rod 40 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 3, the rings 16 and 17 and the double acting hydraulic cylinders 20 connected therebetween are shown as positioned in the enlargement 11 and surrounding the leg 4. Of course, the cylinder of each is connected to one of the rings and the piston rod is connected to the other ring to effect movement of the rings 16 and 17 toward and away from each other as will be described. If desired, suitable cushioning in the form of padding 45 may be provided on each end wall of the enlargement 11 for engagement with the adjacent ring upon relative movement between the support leg 4 and structure 2. It is believed that from the foregoing description it can be seen that an arrangement is provided. so that the rotatable means 24 on each of the rings 16 and 17 may be selectively engaged and disengaged with the projections 8 on each leg 4 to effect stepwise longitudinally movement between the legs 4 and the structure 2.

The rings 16 and 17 may assume any structural configuration to accomplish the results desired, and as shown, they are in the form of box-like members, although such construction may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

While it is believed that the operation of the present invention is apparent from the foregoing brief description of the structure shown in the drawings, to further amplify and describe, attention is first directed to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 wherein there is illustrated the sequence of operation for lowering the support leg 4 relative to the structure 2.

In FIG. 4, it will be noted that the lower ring 17 rests on the pad 45 on the surface 11b of the enlargement 11.

The hydraulic cylinders 20 are retracted so that the ring 16 is in its closest position in relation to the ring 17, and it will be further noted that the projections 25 on the member 24 in the ring 17 are actuated so as to engage the adjacent lugs or projections 8 on the support leg 4. In this position, the support leg is supported in the structure as the structure 2 is moved to the location.

To lower the support legs 4 relative to the structure 2 and onto the water covered area beneath the structure 2, the hydraulic cylinders are extended as shown in FIG. 5 so as to move the ring 17 upwardly relative to the ring 17; and in approximately the last point of the travel, say for example, the last twelve inches of travel of the hydraulic cylinder 20, the member 24 in the upper ring 16 may be rotated so that the projections 25 thereon engage the lugs or projections 8 on the support leg 4 as shown in FIG. 5. When the rotatable member 24 in the ring 16 has engaged the adjacent projections 8 on the members 4, the member 24 in the ring 17 may be then rotated so as to disengage the lugs adjacent thereto; and the hydraulic cylinder 20 may then be bled to permit them to collapse whereupon the support legs engaged on the projections 25 in the upper ring 16 are each lowered relative to the structure 2 whereupon the rings 16 and 17 assume the position in FIG. 6.

When in this position the rotatable member 24 in the ring 17 is immediately adjacent a row of projections 8 on the support leg 4 and by rotating the member 24, by actuating the hydraulic cylinders 30 on ring 17, the projections 25 thereon engage projections 8 and thereby enable the upper projections to be disengaged so that the rings 16 and 17 then assume the position of FIG. 4. Thereafter, the above operation can be stepwise repeated until the leg is lowered to engage on the water covered area beneath the structure 2. Thereafter, the support legs 4 and the member 2a are firmly contacted on the water covered area to firmly support the structure 2 so that the structure can be elevated on the legs, if desired, as will be described hereinafter.

FIG. 7 as well as FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the sequence of raising the structure 2 on the legs 4 after the legs 4 have been positioned in the water covered area, and. in this event, it will be noted that the ring 16 is abutted against the surface 11a and thereby prevented from movement relative thereto. In the initial position illustrated in FIG. 7, the rotatable member 24 of ring member 17 is rotated so that its projections 25 engage the adjacent set of projections 8 on the leg 4 as shown in FIG. 7.

The main hydraulic cylinders 21) are then extended as illustrated in FIG. 8 to urge the structure 2 upwardly relative to the stationary leg 4; and when the cylinders reach the end of their travel, the rotatable member 24 in the ring 16 is rotated so that its projections 25 engage the adjacent row of lugs 8 to support the structure thereon. As noted in FIG. 8, at this time (after the member in ring 16 has engaged the lugs) the rotatable member 24 in the ring 17 is rotated to disengage its projections from the lugs or projections 8 on the support leg 4. Thereafter, the hydraulic cylinders 20 are collapsed and the projections 25 carried by the ring 17 are engaged with the projections 8 on the support leg as shown in FIG. 9.

The sequence of FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 is then repeated until the structure is elevated on the support legs 4 to the desired height.

When it is desired to lower the platform on the support legs, the sequence illustrated in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 is employed. In this instance, the initial position of the jacking arrangement 15 is shown in FIG. 10 when the structure 2 is elevated on the support legs 4. At this time, the movable member 24 in the upper ring 16 is in rotated position so that its projections 25 rests on the projections 8 of the support leg 4 andv thereby retain the structure 2 in elevated position on the support legs 4. The cylinders 20 are then extended as shown in FIG. 11; and when it approaches the end of its stroke, the rotatable member 24 in ring 17 is actuated so that its projections 25 engage a row of lugs 8 on leg 4. When this occurs, the member 24 in ring 16 may be retracted to disengage the projections 25 thereon from the lugs 8 on the leg 4 as illustrated in FIG. 11 of the drawings.

Then, the hydraulic fluid is bled from the cylinders 20 as illustrated in FIG. 12, the structure 2 is lowered relative to the stationary structure 2. The member 24 in the upper ring 16 is then actuated to engage an adjacent row of lugs to hold the support structure whereupon the rotatable member 24 in the ring 17 may be disengaged and the sequence repeated.

When it is desired to raise the support legs 4 and the member 2a from engagement with the subsurface formation, the sequence illustrated in FIGS. 14, 15, and 16 may be followed. In this sequence, the lower ring 17 is seated on the surface 11b of enlargement 11; and the member 24 in ring 16 is engaged beneath the projections 8 on the support legs 4. By then extending the cylinder 20 to the position illustrated in FIG. 15, the support leg 4 is forced upwardly relative to the structure 2 which is floating. in the water covered area; and when the cylinders 20 approach the end of their travel, the member 24 in the ring 17 may be extended to engage a row of projections 8 on the support leg 4 whereupon the member 24 in the ring 16 may be disengaged from such projections as shown in FIG. 15. The pressure hydraulic cylinders 20 may then be bled off to enable the cylinders 20 to collapse to the position shown in FIG. 16. In this position, the member 24 in the ring 16 is again engaged as shown in FIG. 14, the sequence may be repeated until the legs are all raised.

From the foregoing description, it can be appreciated that the jacking arrangement 15 by its position in the enlargement 11 is restrained against movement by reason of the surface 11a or 11b to enable relative movement to be effected between the structure 2 and support leg 4, as desired. The jacking arrangement is also restrained against rotation in the enlargement by reason of the rod 40 and lugs 42 on each ring, although the jacking arrangement 15 may move freely, vertically relative to the rods.

It can be appreciated that the hydraulic cylinders 20 and the hydraulic cylinders 30 may be actuated by means well known in the art which form no part of the present invention and can be controlled by a suitable hydraulic system to perform the operations in the sequence explained herein; whereby the support legs are lowered or raised simultaneously.

Broadly, the present invention relates to a jacking assembly for a support structure to enable relative movement to be effected between such structure and a plurality of support legs.

What is claimed is:

1. A jack assembly for selectively effecting movement between a structure and a support leg for the structure comprising,

(a) spaced rink-like members adapted to surround the (b) hydraulic jack means connecting said spaced rings,

(c) means supported by each of said rings for movement circumferentially of the leg,

(d) means mounted on each of said rings and engaged to move said circumferentially movable means,

(e) said circumferentially movable means having circumferentially spaced projections thereon for engagement with mating circumferential projections on the leg, and

(f) said hydraulic jack means movable longitudinally relative to the leg to effect relative movement between the leg and the structure.

2. A structure comprising,

(a) a buoyant platform,

(b) a plurality of support legs extending through said platfonm for engaging the bottom in a water covered area,

(c) a plurality of circumferentially disposed projections on each leg,

(d) jack means for each of said legs for raising and lowering said legs and for raising and lowering said platform on said legs including a pair of rings surrounding each of said legs and each ring having a member movable about each leg for selective engagement with said projections thereon and power actuated means on each ring for rotating said member in either direction relative to its respective ring,

(e) double acting hydraulic means connected between said rings for selectively effecting relative movement between said leg and platform in either longitudinal direction, and

(f) surface means for securing one of said rings of each pair to said platform against movement relative to the other ring in said pair in either longitudinal direction.

3. The combination of claim 2 including guide means in said platform for said projections on said legs, said guide means including the side and rear surfaces of recesses formed in said platform to receive said projections therein.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said projections on said leg are arranged in circumferentially spaced, and

longitudinally extending rows on each leg and guide means in said platform for each row of projections, said guide means including a plurality of recesses with a recess extending through said platform adjacent a row of projections on said leg.

5. The structure of claim 2 including means for restraining rotation of said rings relative to said platform.

6. A structure comprising,

(a) a buoyant platform,

(b) a plurality of openings therethrough,

(c) a plurality of support legs with each leg extending through an opening in said platform for engaging the bottom in a water covered area,

(d) an enlarged area surrounding and facing each opening having side, and end surfaces,

(e) a pair of rings adapted to be received in said enlarged areas for surrounding said leg extending therethrough,

(f) means for restraining said rings against rotation relative to said platform and legs,

(g) a plurality of circumferentially spaced and longitudinally extending recesses facing each opening, (h) a plurality of circumferentially and longitudinally spaced projections on each leg forming rows, said rows being received in said recesses for guiding thereby,

(i) means carried by each of said rings for rotation about each leg extending through said opening, (j) surface means on each of said last named means for selective engagement and disengagement with said projections on said legs,

(k) hydraulic motor means on each of said rings for selectively rotating said rotatable means to engage and disengage said surface means thereon with said projections on said legs, and

(1) double acting hydraulic means connected between said rings for securing one ring against an end surface of said enlargement and moving said other ring longitudinally of said enlargement for effecting relative movement of said leg and platform when said leg projections are engaged by said surface means on said rotatable means.

7. In a marine structure, the combination including,

(a) a platform,

(b) a plurality of support legs for engaging the bottom of a water covered area to support the platform, (c) each leg having a plurality of longitudinally and cimcurnferentially spaced projections,

(d) guide means on said platform to guide said legs upon longitudinal movement and relative to said platform,

(e) jack means for effecting relative movement between said legs and said platform including,

(1) a spaced pair of ring members for surrounding each leg,

(2) means carried by each ring and rotatable relative to each ring for engaging said projections,

(3) means carried by each ring for rotating said last named means,

(f) double acting hydraulic means connected between said rings, and

(g) surface means for securing one of said rings against longitudinal movement relative to the other of said pair upon relative longitudinal movement between said legs and platform in either direction.

8. In a marine structure, the combination including,

(a) a platform,

(b) a plurality of support legs for engaging the bottom of a water covered area to support the platform, (c) each leg having a plurality of longitudinally and circumferentially spaced projections,

(d) guide means on said platform to guide said legs upon longitudinal movement and relative to said platform,

(e) jack means for effecting relative movement be' tween said legs and said platform including,

(1) a spaced pair of ring members for surrounding each leg, (2) means carried by each ring and rotatable relative -to each ring for engaging said projections, (3) means carried by each ring for rotating said last named means, (f) double acting hydraulic means connected between said rings, (g) means engaging each ring and restraining it against rotation where said rotatable means is rotated, and (h) surface means for securing one of said rings against longitudinal movement relative to the other of said pair upon relative longitudinal movement between said legs and platform in either direction. 9. The invention of claim 1 including a closed hollow member fixedly connected to said legs and adapted to contact the water covered area to support the platform.

10. The invention of claim 2 including a closed hollow member fixedly connected to said legs and adapted to contact the water covered area to support the platform.

11. The invention of claim 6 including a closed hollow member fixedly connected to said legs and adapted to contact the Water covered .area to support the platform.

12. The invention of claim 7 including a closed hollow member fixedly connected to said legs and adapted to contact the Water covered area to support the platform.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1960 Smith 61 46Ts 3/1966 Treadway et al. 254105 X 

1. A JACK ASSEMBLY FOR SELECTIVELY EFFECTING MOVEMENT BETWEEN A STRUCTURE AND A SUPPORT LEG FOR THE STRUCTURE COMPRISING, (A) SPACED RINK-LIKE MEMBERS ADAPTED TO SURROUND THE LEG, (B) HYDRAULIC JACK MEANS CONNECTING SAID SPACED RINGS, (C) MEANS SUPPORTED BY EACH OF SAID RINGS FOR MOVEMENT CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF THE LEG, (D) MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID OF SAID RINGS AND ENGAGED TO MOVE SAID CIRCUMFERENTIALLY MOVABLE MEANS, 